Rep. Thomas Moakley

Maddy summaryThis bill proposes to expand the select board of the Town of Tisbury from its current size to five members, with each member serving a three-year term. The legislation requires a special election where voters must approve the change before it takes effect. If approved, two new positions would be added to the ballot at the 2027 annual town election, with one candidate elected for a three-year term and another for a two-year term to stagger future elections.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Nantucket County Commissioners to transfer ownership of a specific stretch of School Street to the Town of Nantucket. The transfer is based on a 1981 land plan and allows the town's Select Board to set any necessary terms, such as including easements or restrictions. The legislation explicitly exempts this transaction from standard state laws regarding public land conveyances and rights of first refusal. Once passed, the act immediately enables the county to complete the property transfer to the town.

Maddy summaryThis bill authorizes the Town of Nantucket Conservation Commission to transfer a specific parcel of land at 35 Grove Lane to the town's Select Board. It then permits the Select Board to convey that same land to the Nantucket Islands Land Bank, which manages open space and conservation areas. The transfer can include restrictions or easements to ensure the land remains protected for passive recreation and conservation purposes. This process allows the town to reorganize its land holdings between different local entities without changing the land's intended use.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the town of Tisbury to appoint up to two associate members to its Planning Board to fill vacancies or serve when regular members are absent or have a conflict of interest. Under this new provision, the select board and planning board can jointly vote to select these associates for five-year terms, and the planning board chair can designate them to participate in official meetings and decisions. The legislation directly affects the governance structure of Tisbury by creating a mechanism to ensure the planning board remains fully functional without requiring immediate special elections for every vacancy.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows the West Tisbury Affordable Housing Trust to use its funds to build or support community housing for households earning up to 180% of the Dukes County median income. The change specifically overrides previous rules that might have restricted the trust to lower income levels, while still keeping stricter limits for money received from the Community Preservation Act. Directly affecting the town of West Tisbury and its residents, the legislation expands the pool of eligible families who can access affordable housing options funded by this trust.

Maddy summaryHD 1043 establishes Massachusetts' Farm to School Program to connect schools with local food producers. It directly affects K-12 schools and licensed childcare programs participating in federal meal programs (National School Lunch Program or Child and Adult Care Feeding Program) across Massachusetts. The bill creates two key mechanisms: (1) a grant program funding kitchen equipment, staff training, and food literacy curriculum, and (2) a reimbursement incentive that pays schools $1 for every $2 spent on Massachusetts-grown food or $1 for every $3 on New England/New York regional food. The program also sets up an advisory committee and a dedicated fund to manage grants and ensure equitable access for schools and socially disadvantaged producers.

Maddy summaryHD 694 amends Chapter 218 of the General Laws to add the Edgartown and Nantucket district courts to the official list of designated court districts. This is a technical correction updating the law's reference to court locations, not a substantive change to staffing policies or operations. The bill directly affects the administrative listing of courts in Massachusetts but does not alter court staffing levels, funding, or service delivery. It serves as a procedural update to align the legal code with existing court district names.

Maddy summaryThis bill allows authorized entities like schools, restaurants, camps, and sports facilities to stock epinephrine autoinjectors for emergencies. It requires trained staff (who complete approved courses) to manage and administer the devices when someone shows signs of a severe allergic reaction, regardless of prior diagnosis. The law provides legal immunity for good-faith use, except in cases of gross negligence. Entities must report incidents to the public health department, which will publish annual summary reports.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates the Manuel F. Correllus State Forest Trust Fund to support recreational, educational, and conservation activities within Manuel F. Correllus State Forest. The fund will collect revenue from permits, licenses, and agreements related to forest use - instead of directing these fees to the state’s general budget - and use them for facility construction and maintenance. It specifically requires that fees generated by forest activities be dedicated to this trust fund for infrastructure improvements. The fund cannot be depleted through spending, ensuring dedicated resources for the forest’s upkeep. This directly affects the forest’s operations and users who pay associated fees.

Maddy summaryHD 705 requires the Housing Court to hold at least one session each week in Nantucket County and at least one session each week in Dukes County. This directly affects residents and renters in these two counties who use the Housing Court for housing disputes, improving their local access to court services. The bill amends the General Laws to mandate these specific weekly sessions in both locations. This change is limited to scheduling requirements and does not alter the court's jurisdiction or other procedures.